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[Immunosuppressive factors released by Schistosoma mansoni]
Annales D'Immunologie
|January 1, 1977
Summary
Schistosoma mansoni parasites release immunosuppressive factors that inhibit normal lymphocyte proliferation. These heat-resistant factors, found in parasite products and infected rat serum, offer insights into parasitic immune evasion mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Parasitology
- Molecular Biology
Context:
- Schistosomiasis, caused by Schistosoma mansoni, is a major parasitic disease.
- Immune evasion is a key strategy employed by parasites to survive within hosts.
- Understanding the molecular mechanisms of parasite-induced immunosuppression is crucial for developing effective treatments.
Purpose:
- To identify and characterize immunosuppressive factors released by Schistosoma mansoni.
- To investigate the effect of these factors on normal lymphocyte proliferation.
- To elucidate the role of these factors in the host's immune deficiency during schistosomiasis.
Summary:
- Cell-free supernatants and incubation products from S. mansoni were found to contain immunosuppressive factors.
- These factors significantly reduced tritiated thymidine and leucine uptake in mouse spleen cells and human lymphocytes stimulated by mitogens or allogeneic cells.
- The suppressive activity was heat-resistant, dialyzable, with a molecular weight of 500-1,000, and did not involve direct cytotoxicity or interference with ConA binding.
Impact:
- Demonstrates the release of immunosuppressive factors by S. mansoni in vitro and in vivo.
- Provides evidence for a novel mechanism contributing to immune deficiency in parasitic infections.
- Highlights the potential for targeting these factors in therapeutic strategies against schistosomiasis.